Heated food container



R. L; STEVEN HEATED FOOD CONTAINER April 1o, 1945.

Filed Aug. 4, 1942 keg/L. 576 Van ATTOF VE) Patented Apr. 10,1945

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEATED roon CONTAINER Ray L. Steven, Los Angeles, Calif. Application August 4, 1942, Serial No. 453,519

sclaims. (01. 126263) This invention relates to containers and more especially to containers for food articles, and

adapted to have self-generating heat characteristics;

An'object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical and inexpensive container of the character described.

Another object of the invention is to provide a food container such as a lunch box having a chemical compartment adapted for providing heat upon a mixture with water. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a heated food container of the character described adapted to contain both liquid and solid foods.

An additional object is to provide in a container of the character described, novel means for'disposing of the heat vapors while retaining the exterior of the container in a cool state.

Other objects and advantages will appear and be brought out in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspectiveview of an embodiment of my invention showing one of the elements in detached relation.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view taken along the line 2.-2 of Fig. 1.

and supported by a plurality of rectangularshaped pieces I8. A pair of tubes I9 are shown, each tube extending through apertures in container I6 and wall structure II, and being aligned with apertures 20 in side walls 1. Apertures 20 may each be provided as desired with a thin frangible cover which will be broken upon a slight internal pressure from the chemical chamber.

Between the ends of containers I6 and wall structure II spaces are provided for packages 2| which may be articles of solid food such as sandwiches, meat, vegetables or the like, and above container I6 and partially supported thereby and forming a cover is a receptacle 22 which may be a flask for a liquid such as cofiee, tea, milk or otherwise. Flask 2.2 has a neck 23 which is adapted to extend through apertures 24 and 25in end wall 8 and inner wall structure II respectively.

As should be clear from the foregoing description, my improved container 'is readily portable and may contain both solid and liquid food.

,When food is to be heated a little water is poured Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a separate view in perspective showing the chemicalcompartment of the container, and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of elements.

Referring more particularly to the drawing I show a container 6 generally rectangular in form one of the spacer and preferably constituted of cardboard, paperboard, or the like, having side walls I, end walls, 8 and 9, and bottom I 0. An inner wall struc-' ture I I is formed of similar materials and spaced from walls I, 8 and 9,'and bottom I0 by a plurality of U-shaped spacers I2, there being wall portions I3 suitably secured to the inner or outer walls, and havingtop'flange portions I4 which cover the air chamber I5 between the inner and outer walls. This air chamber provides a heat insulating space as will be more apparent hereinafter.

In Fig. 4 I show separately a container structure I6 of thin walled or imperforate material containing a quantity of a suitable comminuted dry chemical I! such as lime, which upon being .mixed with water, efiervesces and generates heat.

Container I6 is of smaller dimensions than the inner wall structure II, and is spaced therefrom into one of tubes I9, which upon mixing with the chemical II, eilervesces. and generates heat. In the mixing process vapors are given off and tubes I9 provide escape passages for the same. The

space surrounding container l6 becomes a heat chamber and heats packages 2| and receptacle 22, spaces I 5- preventing the rapid escape of the heat as well as maintaining the exterior of container 6 cool, so that it may be handled, Flask 22 may be removed in order to dispense the beveerage contained therein, as will be obvious.

Having described my invention what I claim is: 1. An article of the character described comprising a double walled container, a chemical container within said first container and disposed in spaced relation to the wall portions thereof,

the wall of said first container having an opening, an expansion and fluid inlet passage in communication with said inner container and extending through said opening, and'a plurality of food receptacles within said first container in proximity to said second container.

2. An article of the character described com.- prising a container having a pair of spaced outer walls and an open wall portion, a second container within and spaced from said container, and containing a, chemical which is exothermic when water is added thereto, a plurality of fluid and inlet passages in communication with said second container, and extending through the walls of said first container, a food container adapted to be positioned in said open wall por: tion, and a plurality of food compartments positioned within said first container and between the wall portions thereof and said second container.

3. An article of the character described comprising an insulated walled container having a top wall opening, a chemical container disposed within said first container, there being an expansion chamber externally of said second container,

a food container adapted to be positioned in said top wall opening and form a closure therefor, and a ,fluid inlet and. expansion passage extending through a wall portion of said first container and being in communication with the interior of said second container.

' RAY L. STEVEN. 

